Energy and Climate Change in the American Southwest

The U.S. Southwest is under water duress. More water is used in the region each year than the amount of rain and snowfall – a shortfall accounted for by diminishing groundwater reserves.

The Colorado River – the Southwest's only significant source of water – is already over-allocated and slight disruptions can endanger power generation and water supply in the region A recent study called “The Last Drop: Climate Change and the Southwest Water Crisis” found that climate change could add $1 trillion to the costs of water scarcity in the Southwest over the next century.

Water is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to climate change in the Southwest, where models predict a hotter, drier climate developing over the course of the century.

A Great Aridness,a recent book by William deBuys, explores what climate change could mean to the Southwest. In the book’s introduction, Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist who co-directs the Institute of the Environment at the University of Arizona, says, “climate change will produce winners and losers, and those in the Southwest will be losers. There’s no doubt.”

I’ve identified nine critical stories – from the surging natural gas production of Midland, TX to the controversial solar parks of the Mojave Desert – that demand attention for the way they are reshaping the Southwest. In some cases literally, such as with forests devastated by wildfires and bark beetles – both growing in intensity due to climate change. It is unclear what will replace traditional piñon and ponderosa trees as the climate of the Southwest changes and flora and fauna migrate accordingly.

In other cases the reshaping is more socioeconomic rather than physical.

This spring the Navajo Nation signed a contract with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to study what technologies would be best for developing natural resources on the sprawling reservation. Unemployment hovers around 50 percent in the region and a main goal of the project is to improve economic conditions and prevent industry from taking advantage of the tribe, as has historically occurred with mining and oil leasing. Clean energy production also falls in-line with long held cultural beliefs of the Navajo relating to environmental stewardship and preservation.

If they had thought ahead, the amounts of sunshine available for solar PV would be in the hundreds of Gigawatts -for several areas. Millions of rooftops are waiting and available for this clean alternative. Not only would this slow the surge of global warming, but it would advance the health of the citizenry. There is no need for the layers of smog over any southwest city. Our deserts are virtually untapped. The BLM is just recovering from the Wall Street ambush that made shambles out of their application process (do a search for affirmation, please do not puke when you see what transpired).

The "City of Lights" is a pollution monster, compared to what it could be. Look at any Las Vegas skyline for evidence of solar PV.... there is none. Hookers, gambling, pollution and drunkeness are the norm. It will get uglier if those with monopoly control have their way.

Good luck, Ari. I'll follow your project for sure. I recently spent some time in the SW and I couldn't help but thinking how much the area looks vulnerable to climate change, particularly how the communities are positioned in relation to geography and other such factors.